Applied Health Sciences

Chair

Robert Kerr

Graduate Officer

TBA

Professors

Peggy Hutchinson, Robert Kerr

Associate Professors

Lorne J. Adams, Anthony F. Bogaert, Maureen Connolly, Paulette Cote-Laurence, David A. Fennell, Hilary Findlay, Ann Marie Guilmette, John A. Hay, Panagiota Klentrou, Anna H. Lathrop, Kelli-an G. Lawrence, Nancy Murray, Danny Rosenberg, David Telfer, John K. Yardley,

Assistant Professors

Susan Arai, Sherry L. Dupuis, Susan Forbes, David A. Gabriel, Atsuko Hashimoto, Paula Johson-Tew, Heather-Lee Kilty, Michel Ladouceur,, Sandra Peters, Linda Ritchie, Ana Sanchez, Diane E. Stevens, Philip Sullivan, Andrea Toepell, Evangelia Tsiani

General Information

Administrative Assistant

Colleen Catling, extension 3385

location: PEC 287

http://www.brocku.ca/fahs/

The Master's program in Applied Health Sciences offers students a unique educational experience which combines mentorship of the student by a faculty supervisor and extensive small group work with fellow students from each of the four disciplines represented in the program: Community Health Sciences, Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies and Sport Management. Students will gain in-depth training, knowledge and research experience through their thesis work while also benefitting from the broad, cross-disciplinary approach followed in the course work. The advanced course work and strong research experience students gain are intended to prepare them to continue their graduate training at the doctoral level. Students will also be prepared to pursue the wide variety of career possibilities in health, kinesiology, recreation, and sport management.

The objectives of the program are:

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the MA/MSc program will normally have an honours bachelor's degree in the areas of health studies, recreation and leisure studies, kinesiology, or sport management. Students with an honours bachelor's degree in such related fields as psychology, planning, sociology, gerontology, tourism, and biology may also be eligible although additional course work may be required. To be eligible for the MA/MSc program, students must have undergraduate preparation in research methods and in either quantitative or qualitative data analysis. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate research methods course and/or an undergraduate data analysis course may be admitted to the program as a transition student. These students, however, must successfully complete, at the undergraduate level, the research methods and/or analysis course within the first two terms in order to continue in the program. Official transcripts indicating a minimum B (second-class honours standing), a sample of written work, a statement of interest and goals, and three letters of reference will be required. Agreement from a faculty adviser to supervise the student is also required for admission to the program.

Degree Requirements

Basic degree requirements include the successful completion of at least two full course credits and a research project that culminates in a thesis. The research project for the thesis will be chosen in consultation with the student's adviser.

The courses will be chosen in consultation with the candidate's adviser, but normally will include: AHSC 5P00; AHSC5P01; one of AHSC5P07 or AHSC5P17; and one half-credit course elective. Students may choose a Selected Research Topic or Graduate Directed study course, or a graduate level course (number 5(alpha)00 or above) from another graduate department in the University, as their one half-credit course elective.

Students must register for AHSC5P00 and one of either AHSC5P07 or AHSC5P17 in the first semester of study and AHSC 5P01 and (if applicable) one of the AHSC5V00-level courses in the second semester of study. Students are expected to complete their course requirements within the first three terms of study, and conclude all requirements within six academic terms (two years).

Thesis

A thesis proposal will be required of all MA/MSc students in the program. The proposal should contain a detailed statement of the research problem and significance in terms of its contribution to knowledge and/or practice, a precise account of the methodology or research techniques to be employed, plus an outline of the proposed data analysis procedures to be used. The student will be required to present and defend this proposal before the student's thesis advisery committee. The final thesis based on the completed research must also be successfully defended to satisfy the thesis requirement.

Residency

The minimum residency requirement for the MA/MSc program is one year (3 academic terms) of full-time study.

Fields of study

Students will pursue their studies with an emphasis in one of the four disciplines represented within the Applied Health Sciences program. The research strengths of the student's adviser will lead to either an MA or MSc designation.

Course Descriptions

AHSC 5F90

MA/MSc Research and Thesis

A research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis proposal and a final thesis report which demonstrate a capacity for independent work. The thesis shall be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member and both the proposal and the final thesis shall be defended at an oral examination.

AHSC 5P00

Philosophical and Methodological Issues

A critical examination of philosophical issues ,current paradigms, and research methodology related to the conduct of research. Discussion of published and ongoing research from a multidisciplinary perspective. Topics will vary with respect to the current research and expertise of the instructor.

AHSC 5P01

Graduate Integrative Seminar

Designed to provide students and faculty with the opportunity to discuss and debate current theories, methods, and issues as they apply to the multidisciplinary field of applied health sciences. Faculty members and students from a variety of areas within the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences will present research or specific issues to the forum for discussion.

AHSC 5P07

Quantitative Data Analysis and Interpretation

Examines and applies a variety of statistical analysis techniques which can be used in a variety of research designs. Emphasis is placed on the interpretation and implications of empirical quantitative research in the field.

AHSC 5P17

Qualitative Data Analysis and Interpretation

Examines and applies a variety of qualitative data analysis techniques applicable in a variety of qualitative approaches, including the use of computer software programs in qualitative data analysis. Emphasis is placed on the interpretation and implications of empirical qualitative research in the field.

AHSC 5V20 - AHSC 5V59

Selected Research Topics

Focuses on a specific research problem or issue. Topic(s) to be negotiated on a small group basis reflecting the research interests of faculty members.

AHSC 5V60 - AHSC 5V69

Graduate Directed Study

Directed intensive and individual project in a substantive area to be chosen in consultation with a faculty adviser.